Block and switch signal



L E. WIMER.

00K A y y Patented July 2.1, 1885.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet2.

L. E. WIMER. i BLOCK AND SWITCH SIGNAL. No. 322,877.

Patented July 21, 1885;

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BLOCK AND SWITCH SIGNAL. Y I No. 322,877. Patented July 21, 1885.

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N. PETERS. PhowLhngnpher. whingmn, D. c.

UNITED STATES,

PATENT Fries.

L. EDMUND VIMER, OF MARYSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

BLOCK AND SWITCH SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 322,877, dated July 21, 1885.

Application filed May 5, 1855. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, L. EDMUND WIr-IER, of Marysville, Perry county, Pennsylvania, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Railway Block and Switch Signals; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the same.

The so-called block system 7 is now in use on a large number of railways in the United States.

It consists in the subdivision of the road into a number of sections, varying from three to eight miles in length. At the end of each section there is a signal house or tower and operator, and on the arrival of any train it is required to stop if the track of the succeeding section is not clear, so that two trains shall not be on the same section at the same time. On the Pennsylvania road this rule is modied in the oase of freight-trains to this extent: Vhen a freight-train arrives at a station a caution-signal is displayed in case another freight-train is ahead on. the succeeding section, and the arriving train is permitted to proceed cautiously. The signals are displayed by asemaphore during the day, and by colored lights during the night. The position of the semaphore indicates the proper signal during the day-time; the same position, by placing in front of the lantern a red or green light, indicates the signal by night, so that, whether in daylight or darkness, the same signal is displayed by the same movement on the part of the operator. The semaphore is mounted at the top of apost twenty-rive or more feet high, so as to be visible at the desired distance. At night a white-light lantern is displayed near or at the top of the same post, the semaphore being provided with a red or green glass iixed to said semaphore in a position where the movement of the semaphore will be sure to carry either one or the other of said glasses in front of the lantern, and thus send a colored light instead of 4a white light along the line. The normal position of the signal is for danger which requires the train to stop. If the line is clear on the approach of a train the operator withdraws the danger-signal and displays green or white, being required to hold the signal by hand in that position until the entire train has gone past. Upon being released the signal automatically returns to the danger7 position. Semaphores for two tracks may be on the same level, one projecting to the right and the other` t0 the left, the lamps being between; but when more than two tracks pass one station, a semaphore land light being displayed for each track, it becomes necessary to locate one pair above another, and to use a lamp for each pair. The semaphores are worked by means of rods and bell-cranks connecting with hand-levers within the signal house or tower.

A part of my invention relates to the indicator and its connection with the lever and semaphore.

. Vhen 'three signals are providedf-as for danger, cautiom all right 77the extreme movements of the semaphore are limited by fixed stops, and the intermediate station has been indicated by a stop put upon the semaphore hand-rod, said intermediate stop being avoided by a sidewise movement of said rod. broadly. 'Ihe semaphore has also been operated by a cord or chain leading from the semaphore, under a pulley on the post, and thence to an overhead bell-crank in the operators house. I therefore do not claim, broadly, an overhead bell-crank capable of being operated .by the attendant while seated at the telegraph-table; but I am not aware that the overhead lever has been provided with a fixed guide having attached to it an intermediate stop, so that while sitting at the instrumenttable the operator may pull down the overhead lever to the intermediate or lower position at will.

A part of my invention relates to the visual sign which indicates to the eye of the operator the signal being displayed, and thus calls the eye into play to check the possibility of error.

A part of my invention relates to means for raising or lowering the lantern.

I am aware that it has not been uncommon to raise or lower the signal-light by means of a cord and pulley, and therefore do not propose to claim, broadly, the means of rendering the lamp accessible without climbing the mast. l

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is v a perspective view of my signal complete. Fig.

I therefore do not claim such a stop,

IOO

2 is a side elevation ofthe same, partly in section. Fig. 3 is a front elevation, partly in section, of the indicator. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the lower part ofthe post. Fig. 5 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the upper part of the post. Fig. 6 is a ,horizontal section of the post. Fig. 7 is a perspective View of the lantern. Fig. 8 is an elevation showing the windlass and pawl. Fig. 9 is an elevation showing the arrangement of two carriages. t

2 is the ordinary post, say, thirty feet high. It is planted conveniently near to the track.

3 is the operators house or tower, about twelve feet in diameter. Y

4 and 5 are the semaphore-arms pivoted to opposite sides of the post 2, near to its top. Connecting-rods 6, extend from the semaphores to the bell-cranks 7, respectively, and each of said bell-cranks is provided with an adjustable counter-Weight, 8, whereby the semaphore is automatically returned to its normal position, indicating danger.77 The bell-cranks 7 are by means of rods 9 connected with the operators bell-cranks 10 Within the house or tower 3. The bell-cranks 10 are located near the ceiling in the tower, and are operated by pendent cords (or cue, if desirable) 12, which hang within convenient reach of the operators hand while seated at his table. Each bell-crank 10 moves between guides 13, one of which is provided with a shoulder, b, which serves as a stop at the position indicating cautiong77 but by moving the bell-crank 10 slightly sidewise it may pass below said shoulder and display the safety-signal. When released from the hand, the semaphore, the hand-lever, and the indicator all automatically return to the initial position, indicating danger.7

The visible indicator consists of an index, 14, projecting laterally from a rod or weight within a concealing-case, said rod or weight being connected with the lever 10 or with some other part which moves in consonance with the semaphore, so that the movement of said index corresponds with the movement of the semaphore. If preferred, the index may be operated directly by the semaphore by means of an independent direct connection between semaphores and the indicator 5 but the particular manner of making said connection is not material.

Labels or tablets 15, in color corresponding with the colors used to indicate danger, caution, or safety signals-as red, green, white-I permanently fix to the wall opposite to the position occupied by said index when said signals are in proper position. Therefore when the hand acts to operate the signal, the eye perceives the effect and acts as a check to prevent errors.

The lantern 16, instead ofV being permanentv ly fixed to the post, and accessible by climbing the ladder attached to said post, is mounted upon a carriage, 17, which travels along ways or guides 18, and may therefore be raised or lowered at pleasure; but it is desirable to protect the operative devices from the weather, and it is also necessary to provide means for ascending the post for occasional cleaning the semaphore-lenses, or to make such repairs as from time to time may be required. I therefore think it convenient to provide the post with foot-pieces 19, ten or twelve inches apart, and projecting some four inches from the face of the post. rlhe guideways 18 are attached to and supported upon said foot-pieces 19, and extend to within, say, four feet of the ground, where a projecting stop, 21, arrests the descent of the carriage.

The carriage 17 consists of a flat iron bar provided with laterally projecting lugs or arms 22, which embrace and travel on the guideways 18; and to reduce friction small rollers, 23, are inserted between said lugs. At the top said carriage is provided with a proper coupling forconnecting the lifting-rope 24. At its bottom said carriage is provided with a ledge, 25, and with a clip, 36,which are adapted to engage and seat the corresponding clips or loops on the back of the lantern, so that it may be held steadily and securely in place on said carriage, and yet may be easily detached therefrom. Near the top of the post a wheel, 26, is set for the Vlifting-rope 24 to pass over, and said wheel is covered with a hood, 27, which may be conveniently made of galvanized sheet-iron. At the bottom of said hood there is a stop, 28, to arrest the upward movement of the carriage, and said stop is so adjusted that the carriage will be arrested when the flame of the lamp is exactly opposite the lens of the semaphore. After passing over the wheel 26 the rope 24 descends to a small windlass, 29, concealed in the case 30. Said wi-ndlass is provided with a ratchet and pawl to prevent its unwinding.

To prevent unauthorized tampering with the lantern, the case 30 should be secured by lock and key, and, if desired, the windlass may be located inside the house or tower.

In ease more than one lantern is employed they are mounted on separate carriages and connected by chains or other Iiexible means permitting exactly the proper interval, so that when the upper carriage is at its stop the flame ofthe lower lamp will be exactly opposite the lens of its signal-semaphore. Then when the carriages are lowered they close down one on top of the other, and are easily accessible to a person standing on the ground for proper cleaning, trimming, or lighting. The lifting-rope 24, after passing over the wheel 26, descends to the windlass 29, covered and protected from the weather by a easing, 30, which may be made of metal or other material. I prefer, however, to make it from a strip of wood properly channeled out on the under side to receive the rope.

It will be understood without further explanation that the same devices are applicable to indicate the position of switches.

IOO

Having described my invention, I claim as ne'w- 1. A semaphore-signal mounted at or near the top of a post, 2, operative rods 6 and 9, bell-crank 7 combined with the overhead belllevers 10 within the operators house 3, and guides 13, provided with one or more stopshoulders,'for the purpose set forth.

2. In combination with a semaphore-signal and its operative mechanism, a visual-index indicator, 14, connected with and operated by the signaling mechanism, and tablets 15, so that the eye may act as a check upon the hand and prevent errors, as set forth.

3. A semaphore-signal, a post, 2, at or near the top whereof said signal is supported, and a guideway constituted by twostrips, 18 18, permanently attached to and projected outward from said post, combined with a carriage, 17, provided with laterally-projecting l arms 22 22, which inclose the edges of said strips 18, respectively, so as to traverse between and be confined and guided by said strips 18, a lantern, 10, removably attached to said carriage, a lifting-rope, and a lock-up windlass, substantially as set forth.

4. rIhe post 2, having asignal at or near its top, provided with the foot-pieces 19, attached to said post at short intervals, and the guidestrips 18, attached to said foot-pieces 19 to constitute a combined ladder and guideway, combined with a carriage, 17 adapted to traverse said guideway, and a lantern, 10, mounted thereon, substantially as set forth.

5. In a system of semaphore-signals,wherein sets of signals are displayed at different heights on the same post, the post 2, provided with guideways 18, pulley 26, liftingrope 24, and windlass 29, combined with two carriages, 17, connected by a chain or other flexible connection of proper length, and two lanterns, 16, whereby when said carriages are lowered they may close together and: render both lamps accessible from the ground, as set forth.

6. In connection With a signal-post, 2, and semaphore-signals mounted thereon, guideways permanently attached to said post, a carriage, 17, with lugs 22 and rollers 23, and seat for the lantern, combined with a stop, 28, to arrest the upward movement of the carriage at the exact point required, substantially as setforth.

L. E. WIMER. Witnesses:

PAUL CHARLTON, G. R. LINCOLN. 

